Theres been a lot more awareness of how special the place is, says Young. The soul then arrives at Kaena Point where it meets two gods. Upon death, or even during a near death experience, the soul would first travel directly to Kaena Point to determine if it was ready to continue. * The 2023 teal/turquoise decal must be adhered to the back of the permitted vehicle. A popular one concerns the demigod Maui: Maui had a famous hook that he used to raise islands from the sea. A 5-mile trail (8.0 km) can be entered from Keawaula Beach or Mokuleia. Once receiving this email notification, you should receive the permit & decal in the mail within several days. As the newly released soul approached the point, it was met by the spirits of deceased ancestors or friends who were waiting for the soul to arrive. And its at this point that the natural world meets the afterlife, according to Hawaiian folklore. Swimming is not recommended because of dangerous ocean conditions. Due to large number of applications, processing time will be delayed. Kaena or Kaena Point is the westernmost tip of the island of Oahu. We will get to it as best we can and contact you if additional information is needed. Kaena Point (or Kaena Point)lies on the westernmost tip of Oahu. Kaena Point, Oahu: The unvisited Hawaiian coast that is the epicentre of a legend Julie Miller Kuliouou Ridge, Oahu, Hawaii. There are two Kaena Point trailheads, one on the north shore and one on the west side. Yes! Pele, Hawaiis fire goddess, controls the energy of lightning, volcanoes, and wind. TheState of Hawaii has designated the point as a Natural Reserve to protect nesting Laysan Albatrosses, Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, Hawaiian monk seals, and the fragile (to vehicular traffic) native strand vegetation that has been restored there. It was believed that spirits of ancestors waited for the soul at Kaena Point to help guide it to its next point. From the Wai'anae side, take the trailhead at the end of the paved road in the Keawaula Section of Ka'ena Point State Park and follow the dirt roadway for 2.4 miles to Ka'ena Point Natural Area Reserve. Kaena Point is the legendary "Leaping place of souls" for recently deceased Hawaiian spirits. A Hawaiian euphemistic term for dying was to travel west. On Oahu, it was a journey to, As the newly released soul approached the point, it was met by the spirits of deceased ancestors or friends who were waiting for the soul to arrive. Legend has it that both of these landmarks came to be because of the actions of one man on a dark, stormy night many years ago. Note: The Kaena Point Vehicle Access Permit allows vehicles to access designated roads in the permitted section provided on the, Dogs, drones, camping, and ground fires are not permitted, adhere to all park signs, road signs, and, Violations of the Kaena Point Vehicle Access Permit. Hiking proved a bit easier for our group than biking, as parts of Kaena Point Trail were too rocky or narrow for a comfortable ride. Ka'ena Point is a park and hiking site, and is also known for snorkeling. The boulder, they named the Rock of Kauai. It was still there the next day when the storm died down, the sky cleared and the sun came out. They might send the soul back if the death were not real or if certain earthly obligations were not fulfilled. At the time of death or during a near-death experience, the soul would travel to Kaena Point to determine whether it was ready to continue. As of 2010, it has a population of 3,792,621, and is built on a land area of 468.67 square miles. There are no lifeguards or comfort station. (1) The first email should confirm your application was submitted successfully. Catboat Ride with Catboat Escapes, Mossy Cave Trail: How to See the Only Waterfalls in Bryce Canyon NP, How to Do Bryce Canyon in the Winter: Cross-Country Skiing, Kayaking Anahulu River: Popular Thing to Do on North Shore Oahu, Olomana Trail How to Hike All Three Peaks | Oahu, HI. Once you reach the point, youll notice a change in the energy. HIGHLIGHTS: This 2.5-mile hike features breathtaking views up and down the coast, abundant . One night, Ka'ena, an Oahu chief, organised a night-fishing expedition. Those who manage to reach its rugged turf do report hearing something beyond the sounds of wildlife. This is the driest area of Oahu, and the climate here is harsh, hot, and rugged. When the deceased soul was ready to depart, it was guided toLeina ka Uhanewhite rock. Your email address will not be published. Map Provided by TopoZone.com Kaena Point Information. Dunes such as these were once found on the main Hawaiian Islands, and on them developed ecosystems unique in the world. Believe it or not, this is actually the Kaena Point Space Force Station. The helpful animal guides would eventually escort the bad soul to the leaping stone where the spirit would plunge into endless night. At this point the guardian angel would guide the soul through sea caves and other wondrous worlds until the soul was then ready to enter the land of po. So it was named for himkaena means red hot in Hawaiian. Ka'ena Point State Park is a relatively remote and wild coastline park with hiking, picnicking, and shoreline fishing opportunities. The chief of the area wanted to gather rocks and hia logs from the . He was known throughout the islands respected for his amazing strength, but feared for his quick temper. Though long uninhabited, Kaena was once an important community for fishing, feather-collecting and salt-making. km) park that stretches for 9 miles (14.5 km) around Oahu's northwestern tip. Check out our hike to Kaena Point here or read up on our whale watching, snorkel tour with Wildside, located on the way to Kaena Point here. Photos (in order): Nick Welles / Flickr; Jeffrey Villamin / Flickr; Jeffrey Villamin / Flickr. If you are interested in contributing to these efforts, please contact: Mahalo for helping Hawaii State Parks conserve and protect our valuable natural, cultural, and recreational resources. In the winter months, Kaena Point is one of the best places to watch breaching humpback whales. HOME GAME TICKETS. Legend has it that both of these landmarks came to be because of the actions of one man on a dark, stormy night many years ago. A hike to Ka'ena Point can take two routes. This route follows the shoreline on your left (southwest), characterized by boulder . Photos (3,276) Directions. With that in mind, weve narrowed down Oahus musts to 25 so that you can experience the extent of The Gathering Places wonder: Your email address will not be published. It says that permits will be processed within 10 working days. According to legend, Ka'ena Point was named after a chief who died after a large rock from Kauai was thrown onto the western O'ahu shore. Kaena Point is the westernmost tip of land on the island of Oahu. He awoke to strange noises out on the water, and when he looked out he saw faraway lights dancing in the black distance. Intrepid hikers mustmake the last leg of the trek by foot,where theyre met withbreathtakingviews of the Pacific Ocean. Initiated in 2015 primarily as a cultural and natural resources management tool that was generally supported by the community to protect Kaena, this permit system aimed to curtail 20 years of increasing landscape degradation caused by uncontrolled four-wheel drive vehicle use in the reserve. Want more haunted places? The hike to the point from either section is 2.7 miles one-way along a volcanic coast with mountain and ocean views. Upon death, or even during a near death experience, a Hawaiian persons soul would first travel directly to Kaena Point to determine if it was ready to continue. If you do not receive the permit & decal within 7 days of the second notification, you should call or email. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'to_hawaii_com-box-3','ezslot_5',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-to_hawaii_com-box-3-0'); On this night, when the wind raged, lightning struck, thunder rumbled and the rain beat down from the heavens upon the islands of Hawaii, a baby boy was born. Partner With Us. See Hapuna site for updates. There are over 2,000 seabirds that use Kaena Point as their breeding grounds. They might send the soul back if the death were not real or if certain earthly obligations were not fulfilled. The volcano that created the Waianae Mountain Range last erupted over three million years ago. As the trail morphed from jagged rock to smooth sand dunes near Kaena Point, we took off our hiking shoes and made a beeline toward the shore. If the death was final, the ancestral guides would entertain the soul, comfort it, and begin leading it on its journey off the earthly plane. Is this where were supposed to jump?, Maybe, I answered. It was the first time in years I had been on the coastal trail traversing remote Kaena Point, one of the last intact sand dune ecosystems in the main Hawaiian Islands. He gathered many people from the village and they set out in canoes of all sizes, with torches and their largest fishing nets. The canoes were smashed and shattered into tiny pieces, and chief Ka'ena, who stood proudly in the middle of his people, lost his life along with many of the fishermen. A Hawaiian monk seal suns itself on the points rocky shore. A wedge-tailed shearwater takes flight above Kaena Points sand dunes. On the northwestern coast of Oahu is a point of land called Ka'ena Point. THE FULL STORY, Copyright 2023 That Adventure Life | All Rights Reserved, Ancient Hawaiian mythology describes a colorful array of spirits and dimensions in the afterlife. 43 reviews of Kaena Point State Park "If you visit Oahu and you spend a week or more on the island chances are you will rent a car at some point and go exploring. But just whats so alluring about this ruggedstretch of land? From the parking lot to the point takes about one hour at a brisk pace, with a total mileage of 2.5 miles one way. The spirits could help revive the body if the death was not final. The Legend of Ka'ena Point is about an Island and how the sharp point was created. When the water is calm, dolphins are frequently spotted playing offshore. If there is swell in the water, you will hear and see blowholes sending churned-up seawater into the air. Kaena Point is also known as Leina a Ka'uhane, which means "leaping place of the souls." The legend says this is where the recently deceased spirits departed to rejoin their ancestors. A hat or sun shirt is also ideal. Legends vs Utah Falconz 4/15/23. See the FREE topo map of Kaena Point a Cape in Maui County Hawaii on the Lanai North OE W USGS quad map. The spirits could help revive the body if the death was not final. It is a remotetracking stationof theSatellite Control Networkresponsible for trackingsatellitesinorbit,receiving and processing data, and enabling control of satellites byrelayingcommands from control centers. The area was named after a brother or cousin of Pele who accompanied her from Kahiki. Naio (Myoporum sandwicense var sandwicense), Naupaka kahakai (Scaevola taccada var. There is a door in the fence that allows hikers to pass through. It is rumored that Kaena Point typically has waves (up to 15 metres or 49 feet in height) larger than those at Waimea Bay, one of Oahu's world-famous surfing locations. They were dark and stormy. It's a relatively remote and wild coastline. 44 Hawaiian and Pidgin Phrases Every Visitor Needs to Know, 6 Colorful North Shore Towns You Won't Want to Miss, 8 Local and Independent Book Shops You Need to Visit in Hawaii, Heres Why You Need to Taste Zippy's Malasada Hybrid, Taste Mocktails that Pack a Punch With a Purpose at this Wahiaw Shop, Matsumoto Shave Ice Celebrates 72 Years of Business with $1 Shave Ice. Things happen in it that would seem almost impossible. All rights reserved. One thing Im known for when I travel is how I always plan where we eat on our adventures FIRST, before anything else! Copyright 2023, State of Hawaii. Yes! I also want to get Early Bird Books newsletter featuring book deals, recommendations, and giveaways. The boy was named Haupu. Print this map | View map legend. This has not been confirmed, but during the "Swell Of The Century" in 1969, on the day of Greg Noll's famous wave at Mkaha, Noll took a picture of a gigantic wave breaking at Kaena Point. The storm was so vicious that the unrelenting rain that fell from the black clouds washed the red soil down through the valleys and soon the flooded streams and thundering waterfalls churned as red as blood. Check out this 5.0-mile out-and-back trail near Waialua, Oahu. Remember to pack out, what you pack in. Kaena Point is a unique landscape on Oahu and important haul out location for Hawaiian monk seals, as well as, numerous native seabirds, including Laysan albatross. Keep an eye out for resting monk seals on the beach on and around the point. Steeped in history and legend, Kaena Point is also an area of rich cultural significance. I am the camera guy, videographer, and writer for That Adventure Life. 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